As they walked along the spacious terrace, they looked about and noticed the large field of green grass and there was a spot where there were lots of children around, playing on things they had never seen before, too.
"What's over there?" Steven asked, pointing at the children down below he could see through the glass rail of the terrace.
Max said, "That's the playground. Us kids like to play there. It's really fun. I can show you later if you want."
"Yes, please," Steven said.
"And we're here," Max said. "Units A5-16 and -17."
Derek looked at the tag attached to his key and noticed that it was the same as that on the display plate of the door while Rory did the same at the next unit. Derek inserted the key into the lock and then turned the handle and opened the door.
The moment he saw the entrance, he was stunned, and as Max showed them around the place and how to use the nifty, magical devices like the light switches, the taps with running hot and cold water, the toilets and showers, the washing machine, and even what was called the Vicky television, for the next few moments, he as well as his family became utterly dazed.
"We're getting our own rooms and beds," Natalie said. "Even our children. And the beds and mattresses are so big and looked so soft and luxurious, like one a noble would own. I can't believe this."
Grandma Liz was sitting on the sofa, sobbing because they were suddenly living like kings and queens while Grandpa Joel rubbed her arm. "Hush now, you're making the lad uncomfortable."
Max chuckled. "It's okay. Mama was like that, too, when we first moved in. She's used to all the fancy new things now. We should go down to the Residential Supply Center to get your clothes and other things."
"Clothes?" Derek asked.
Max nodded. "Well, you can't go about wearing those filthy old things. It's just not suitable living in Norsewood Lodge. You've got to wear the proper clothes like this." He spread his arms out and posed like a young model. "See, sweatpants and sweater. It's very warm and comfortable. Also, sneakers. They're very soft to walk on, not hard, and don't hurt your feet like old boots. When spring comes, the textile department where Mama works will be open with all sorts of new clothing, and we'll get even more fancy ones."
"What's a textile department, Max?" Natalie asked, intrigued.
"It's a place where people learn how to make new clothes," Max said. "I know because I make myself learn everything because I'm going to join the administration department when I grow up."
They washed up, using the body wash and hair shampoo the warm water of the shower sprinkling down on them like rain. Then they dressed in new, clean, warm clothing and very soft shoes, the likes of which Derek had never worn before. Three hours later, Max returned and called out, "Let's go! Let's go! I have to show you how to get to dinner." Behind him were his parents, Mr. Gilbert Dodwell and Mrs. Becky Dodwell.
The two families, the Porters and Etons, hurried out the doors and the adults immediately greeted each other and got to know one another. After filing out of the elevator, Max led them to the dining hall where it was already packed with people, and Derek and his family, as well as those who had just arrived with them from Carnfell, felt overwhelmed. Indeed, the place was grand, much like a great hall of a palace, and they couldn't believe this was a dining hall for the likes of commoners.
"You get a tray, a plate, and the cutlery," Max said while everyone did as he demonstrated. "Then you line up to get the food. Oh, and drinks are over there."
Everyone shifted their gazes to the other side where there were large boxes like objects with clear glass windows showing the different colors of beverages inside.
Max said, "There is hot and cold water, hot cocoa, and apple juice and orange juice. Us kids like the juice and the hot cocoa the best. There's tea and coffee for the adults, too. I heard the adults like the coffee the most, but I tried it one day and it was foul. It's very bitter, so I don't know how any adult likes it."
"And you couldn't get to sleep that night and got quite scared, didn't you, Max," his mother said. "I remember you came running into our room crying."
Max frowned and mumbled, "Mama, not in front of the new people. They'll look down on me."
Becky leaned in toward Grandma Liz and said, "He was so eager to be a part of the administration team that he even begged me to teach him how to use the washing machine so he could start giving tours to newcomers and teaching them how to use the unit's magical gadgets."
"Is that so?" Grandma Liz said, chuckling, which made Max's cheeks turn crimson.
"Mama, please stop it," he moaned. "You're embarrassing me."
Derek leaned in and asked Gilbert, "Does the coffee drink make one unable to sleep?"
Gilbert nodded. "Apparently, I heard it has this ingredient call caffeine and makes one wide awake. We like to drink it in the morning to wake us up."
"Ah, I see," Derek said.
Finally, they reached the buffet, and everyone stared, amazed at the array of food available. Derek noticed chicken, which looked like it had been either steamed or poached, another kind of chicken, which looked golden and the skin crispy as if it had been grilled, and an array of steamed as well as grilled assorted vegetables, and of course, the steamed rice and soft baked bread.
Breathless, Hunter asked, "Can we really eat as much as we want?"
"Of course, lad," Gilbert said. "It's plentiful here."
"Max," a lady serving them said. "I see you're showing the new people around?"
Max pumped out his chest in pride. "Yes, I am. So, what are we having for dinner this fine evening?"
The woman chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "This evening, my dear Max, we have a choice of either poached chicken or grilled with steamed rice or baked bread. For sides, it's either steamed vegetables or grilled ones, and dessert, it's fresh assorted fruits and chocolate pudding with orange custard sauce. Of course, you can mix and match to your liking or you can try all of it."
"I'll go for both types of chicken, thank you very much," Max said. "Since I have to be good, I'll have the grilled vegetables and steamed rice."
"Of course," the woman said and started serving.
Once everyone had their plates filled with delectable-looking food, they followed Max to a table and sat down. Immediately, they started digging in, with Hayden and Hunter gobbling down their meat and vegetables in quick succession.
"Slow down, boys," their mother, Gemma, said.
"I've never eaten anything this delicious in my life," Hunter said. "I mean no disrespect to your cooking, Mother, but..." He wolfed down a big chicken thigh.
"Me, too," Hayden said. "This is a feast for us. I'm not one for vegetables, but these grilled ones are to die for."
Gemma sighed and said, "Well, I agree. It looks like I'd have to join the kitchen department to learn a few new recipes."
"It's the culinary department that you should be enrolling in," Becky said. "Working in the kitchen will be part of it, so I've heard. The lessons will be starting within the next two weeks."
"Is that so?" Gemma said. "Then I will join the culinary department."
Looking around and seeing how content his family was, Derek felt so blessed to have such a lovely meal and being surrounded by a lot of Norsewood people. He was just popping a forkful of steamed rice into his mouth when he saw Robert Lamont walking toward him.
He stood and said, chuckling, "Robert."
Robert burst out laughing. "Derek, I'm glad to see you faring so well and have now joined us." The man put his food tray on the table and took a seat next to Derek. They started chatting, and soon, Kent Ingram and Darell Henley joined them. Suddenly, there was a lot of commotion on the other side, and Derek lifted his gaze to see the Templetons coming into the hall.
He saw Aldric, the lord of the land, and heavens, but the man looked utterly striking and overwhelming. He remembered the lord had been impressive due to his blood blessed by the Goddess Isaris, but now, he was even more so. The man exuded so much power and strength, that even from this far away, Derek felt a sense of pressure coming down on him. He wondered if everyone else could feel it, too.
He shifted his gaze to Lady Quinn next and saw the young woman kissing her husband on the cheek before sitting down and beginning their meals.
"She's a beauty, Lady Norsewood," Natalie said. "And so very kind."
Derek nodded, his thoughts on her powerful magic. He wondered if King Henry knew of her abilities. He shook his head. Nay, if that bastard did, then he wouldn't have allowed her to wed Lord Aldric. He wouldn't have given her away, especially to a lord of a godforsaken land such as Norsewood. He'd be keeping her and her power for himself, that selfish dastard.
Deep down, Derek was glad—so very and utterly glad—that Lady Quinn had wed Lord Aldric, for she was now their lady, and that meant Norsewood would grow—stronger and more powerful and influential with riches far beyond anyone's imagination. That, Derek could feel in his bones.
After dinner, while his parents visited Grant at the health clinic and his wife and children and his wife's family were being shown around the residential area and introduced to their neighbors by Max and his parents, Derek visited the greenhouse with Kent.
The moment he entered the place, he sucked in his breath in awe. The greenhouse was a three-story-high building made of glass and a sort of metal Derek had never even heard of or seen before. On either side of the floors, there were large terraces, leaving the middle space clear where tall trees stood.
Green, there was so much green everywhere, and there were hundreds of plants with fruits he had never seen before. There were bright yellow to orange to red to purple to ones with spikes and ones with hairs, and needless to say, he was dazed.
"We're unsure yet which will grow well here in Norsewood," Kent said. "Time will tell."
"Are all these... edible?" Derek asked.
Kent nodded. "Yes. Most of the fruits are juicy and sweet, but some are sour. I've tasted most of it, and so far, I've enjoyed persimmon, mango, rambutan, logan, lychee, cherry, and mangosteen, just to name a few." He chuckled. "I admit most of them are the tropical varieties and they need a lot of sun and heat to grow well, which Norsewood would not be able to provide, especially during the winter season, which is a shame."
"There are so many," Derek said.
"Yes, there are, aren't there?" Kent said. "I can remember the first time I saw all this. It took my breath away, and I just didn't know what to think or do. But imagine if Norsewood could grow some of these. It'd change our way of not only living, but eating, too."
Derek nodded.
"Some of those fruits, I just bet the nobles and the wealthy would love them, like the grapes that are ever so loved by the nobles. It'd be treated as a luxury. Imagine the price on them if they become in high demand."
Again, Derek nodded.
Kent said, "You're interested in joining the agriculture department?"
Derek nodded. "Yes, very much so."
Kent smiled. "Then we'll have you join our team as soon as possible."
"Looking forward to it," Derek said.
That night, Derek slept on the soft mattress that was their bed, a far cry from the straw and cold hard dirt ground that was their usual sleeping place. His eyes were wide open as his mind raced, not thinking about how he was going to keep his family warm and well-fed, because there was no need for him to burden himself thinking about that now, but rather, about all those plants and the new possible future that belonged to Norsewood.
"It's so different," Natalie's voice came to him softly. "I can't believe we're really living like the nobles. Am I dreaming, Derek?"
Derek moved to wrap his arms around his dear wife and whispered, "No. You're not dreaming, Natalie. You're not dreaming at all. This is real. This is our life now. Let us make the most of it before returning to Carnfell."
"I heard people talking about homes," Natalie said. "Lord and Lady Norsewood will be rebuilding our homes for us, and everyone said it'll be like this unit, with all the nifty and luxurious things and..." She took in a shaky breath. "Won't our home be even more grand than a lord's manor then?"
Derek chuckled. "I believe it'd be spacious like this, though not as grand and large as a manor, but yes, inside, it'd be like a noble manor."
She snuggled against him and said, "I'm glad Lady Quinn came to Norsewood. I'm so glad she married our lord. Without her, we'd still be at home now, wondering what's going to happen when what little stock we have left runs out."
Derek nodded. "I know." He shifted his gaze to his daughter who had yet to try out her new bed in the other room with her brother. She was hugging her large rabbit toy tightly in her arms, and he smiled, knowing now that his children will be safe, warm, and well-fed for this winter, and of course, spring and summer, too. All seasons for the next two to three years, in fact, because they had an abundance of rice grain as stock back home, grain they had no idea what to do with until now.
"Good night, Derek," Natalie said.
"Good night, darling," he said, kissing her onthe forehead. Then he shut his eyes, a smile on his lips.